Thanks Simon, good tip about the ledges. I should have mentioned that the
fountain is on a timer and only active during the week for around 5 hours, I
often have it on during the day all weekend. Would this intermittent
choppiness affect the plants available ?

My enlarging options are limited as it is in a fairly tight space, I could
widen it slightly, maybe by 20-30cm. Deeper would be hard work (sits on
rubble) but maybe worth the effort. I have a small fenced suburban garden
so there shouldn't be much problem with evaporation.

I came up with this idea because I have to completely remove the pebbles &
wire mesh to get at the pump. I had considered digging out a small "access
dock" for it but I'm not sure if this is feasible, I think it might affect
the flow.

"Simon Avery" wrote in message
...
"hedgehog" wrote:

Hello hedgehog

h I have a 1M square by around 0.5M deep pebble fountain which
h I am considering turning into a small pond. The fountain
h comes from a 1M high sculpture (standing in the middle on a

h Does anyone have any tips ? In particular: I assume I
h would have to construct a ledge for planting & add some
h growing medium - how to stop this blocking the pump
h (currently sitting on the bottom); any plants that
h would thrive in fairly choppy waters.

1M is fairly small, but should be Ok for plants.

As for ledges - simply put in bricks or blocks loose to stand the
plants on (protecting the liner if it's butyl/pvc with carpet or
similar).

Choice of plants I'm not so sure of - lilys and other broadleaf plants
that spread their leaves on the water surface simply won't live in
choppy water or constant spray. Spiky leaves or sub-surface plants
should do better though, but it is a fairly hostile environment.

Chances are that on a windy day you'll lose a lot of water, and given
you don't have much reserves may easily empty your pond and burn out
your pump and kill your plants unless you switch it off.

Any chance of making a bigger pond? Big ponds are easier to get a good
balance going.

--
Simon Avery, Dartmoor, UK Ý http://www.digdilem.org/